Umbrella attachment

ABSTRACT

An attachment for an umbrella wherein a receiver engages the stick extension of the umbrella and is provided with an impaling member for engagement in a ground surface, in order that the umbrella be temporarily held in position during nonuse.

United States Patent Gravatt [15] 3,662,771 51 May 16, 1972 [54]UMBRELLA ATTACHMENT [72] Inventor: Albert W. Gravatt, 2401 South BroadSt.,

Trenton, NJ. 08610 [22] Filed: May 22, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 39,782

[52] U.S. Cl ..l35/l6, 135/20, 135/36,

135/47, 248/44 [51] Int. Cl ..A45b 1/00, A45b 1 1/00 [58] Field oiSearch..l35/36, 47,20, 54,16; 7 v 52/165, 166; 248/44, 156, 169

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,155,589 10/1915 McDonald.,248/44 X 1,351,007 8/1920 Shephard ..248/44 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 570,322 12/1957 Italy 1 35/36 TP Primary Examiner-J. KarlBell Attorney-Robert K. Youtie [57] ABSTRACT An attachment for anumbrella wherein a receiver engages the stick extension of the umbrellaand is provided with an impaling member for engagement in a groundsurface, in order that the umbrella be temporarily held in positionduring nonuse.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented May 16, 1972 INVENTOR. ALBERT W.GRAVATT ATTORNEY.

UMBRELLA ATTACHMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is well known, golfenthusiasts partake of the game in all sorts of weather, often .carryingumbrellas during the game to protect against rain or sun. Problemshavearisen due to the instability and high windage of umbrellas whenplaced on the ground, as during nonuse when a player is holding a golfclub and cannot hold an umbrella. Often an umbrella placed on the groundin one location requires quite distant retrieval a few moments later.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an important object of thepresent invention to provide an attachment for umbrellas which enablesan umbrella to be placed in position on the ground and to .remain in theplaced position against the force of wind, gravity and the like,throughout the short period of nonuse, after which the player mayquickly and easily retrieve the umbrella for continued use.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide anumbrella attachment having the advantageous characteristics mentioned inthe preceding paragraph, which'is extremely simple in construction,adapted to be employed as original equipment on new umbrellas or readilyattached to existing umbrellas, be durable and reliablethroughout alonguseful life, and which can be economically manufactured for sale at areasonable cost. 7

While the umbrella attachment of the present invention has beenprimarily developed for use by golfers and the like, it is appreciatedthat the instant device is capable of many varied applications, all ofwhich are intended to be comprehended herein.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings,which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective viewillustrating an umbrella utilizing an attachment of-the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional elevational view, greatly enlarged, takengenerally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded sectional elevational viewshowing the instantattachment prior to assembly with an umbrella.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularlyto the drawings, and specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, an umbrellais there generally designated 10, which may be conventional, including acanopy 11 of generally concave configuration, and a stick or handle 12extending interiorly from the apex of the canopy. An extension or point13 extends exteriorly from the canopy 11 in substantial coaxialalignment with the handle or stick 12. In many conventional umbrellaconstructions, the point or extension 13 may be integral or rigid withthe stick or handle 12.

The attachment of the present invention is generally designated 15, andshown in FIGS. 2 and 3, being obscured in the operative condition ofFIG. 1. The attachment 15 may advantageously be integrally molded ofsuitable plastic material, having sectional thicknesses to achievedesired flexibility, or being reinforced by inserts, if desired.

The attachment 15 consists essentially of a receiver 16,

upper end open, as at 17 and its lower end closed. In the illustratedembodiment the receptacle 16 tapers both externally and internally'fromthe open upper end 17, and is provided internally with a plurality ofribs, lips or internal projections 18 for increased frictionalengagement with a part inserted into the receptacle 16. As best seen inFIG. 2, the receptacle 16 is adapted to receive, through its open end,the extension or point 13 of the umbrella 10. The umbrella extension 13serves to resiliently deflect the lips or ribs 18 downwardly or inwardlyinto the recess 16, and thereby define of the lips a plurality ofgripping elements in firm frictional engagement with the extension 13 atspaced locations therealong. In this manner, the receptacle 16, and theentire attachment 15 are firmly secured to the umbrella extension 13,but maybe removed therefrom if desired, without damage to the parts.

The umbrella attachment 15 further includes an impaling member 20extending from the closed, smaller end of receiver 16, in substantiallycoaxial alignment therewith, and tapering generally to a point, as at21. By this construction, the impalingmember 20 is adapted for ease ofimpaling in a ground surface. Further, the impaling member 20, when theattachment 15 is in position on an umbrella 10, is in coaxial alignmentwith the umbrella handle or stick 12, so that impaling of the member 20into a ground surface may be manually achieved by manipulation of thehandle. In addition, the impaling member 20, at a location just inwardof its point 21, may be formed with one or more lateral projections orbarbs 22 for morepositive retaining engagement in the ground.

While operation ofthe instant device is believed apparent from theforegoing description, it will be understood that the attachment v15 maybe quickly and easily attached to an umbrella 10, by mere engagement ofthe umbrella extension 13 into the receiver 16. Further, the umbrella.may then be carried in the usual manner, and when it is desired to nolonger hold the umbrella, it may be placed on the ground, by impalingthe impaling member 20 into the ground, as shown in FIG. 1 and laterretrieved from the same location by merely raising the handle or stick12 to withdraw the attachment 15 from the and use.

' which may assume the form of a tapering receptacle having its Althoughthe present invention has been described in some detail by way ofillustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it isunderstood that certain changes and modifications'may be made withinthe-spirit ofthe invention.

What isclaimed is: j

1. An attachment for an umbrella including a canopy, a stick interiorlyof the canopy and an extension exteriorly of the canopy in alignmentwith the stick, said attachment comprising areceiver for snug frictionalreception of an umbrella extension, an impaling member projecting fromsaid receiver for releasable retaining engagement in a ground surface totemporarily hold an umbrella in position during nonuse, saidreceivertapering inwardly for snug reception of different size umbrellaextensions, and resiliently deflectable internal lips in said receiverfor frictional engagement with a received extensionat spaced locationstherealong.

2. An attachment for an umbrella according to claim 1, said receiver andimpaling member being integrally fabricated of plastic.

3. An attachment for an umbrella including a canopy, a stick interiorlyof the canopy and an extension exteriorly of the canopy in alignmentwith the stick, said attachment comprising a receiver for snugfrictional reception of an umbrella extension, and an impaling memberprojecting from said receiver for releasable retaining engagement in aground surface to temporarily hold an umbrella in position duringnonuse, said receiver comprising an elongate receptacle having one endopen and tapering in the direction away from said one end, for coaxiallyreceiving an umbrella extension in alignment with the umbrella stick,and said impaling member being aligned with said receiver for alignmentwith the umbrella stick to facilitate the impaling in a ground surface,and resiliently deformable internal lips in said receiver for frictionalengagement with a received extension at spaced locations therealong,said receiver, lips and impaling member being integrally fabricated ofplastic. 5

4 An attachment for an umbrella according to claim 3, in combinationwith barb means on said impaling member for increased retainingengagement in a ground surface.

1. An attachment for an umbrella including a canopy, a stick interiorlyof the canopy and an extension exteriorly of the canopy in alignmentwith the stick, said attachment comprising a receiver for snugfrictional reception of an umbrella extension, an impaling memberprojecting from said receiver for releasable retaining engagement in aground surface to temporarily hold an umbrella in position duringnonuse, said receiver tapering inwardly for snug reception of differentsize umbrella extensions, and resiliently deflectable internal lips insaid receiver for frictional engagement with a received extension atspaced locations therealong.
 2. An attachment for an umbrella accordingto claim 1, said receiver and impaling member being integrallyfabricated of plastic.
 3. An attachment for an umbrella including acanopy, a stick interiorly of the canopy and an extension exteriorly ofthe canopy in alignmenT with the stick, said attachment comprising areceiver for snug frictional reception of an umbrella extension, and animpaling member projecting from said receiver for releasable retainingengagement in a ground surface to temporarily hold an umbrella inposition during nonuse, said receiver comprising an elongate receptaclehaving one end open and tapering in the direction away from said oneend, for coaxially receiving an umbrella extension in alignment with theumbrella stick, and said impaling member being aligned with saidreceiver for alignment with the umbrella stick to facilitate theimpaling in a ground surface, and resiliently deformable internal lipsin said receiver for frictional engagement with a received extension atspaced locations therealong, said receiver, lips and impaling memberbeing integrally fabricated of plastic.
 4. An attachment for an umbrellaaccording to claim 3, in combination with barb means on said impalingmember for increased retaining engagement in a ground surface.